Before becoming the first player drafted directly into the NFL from the CFL this century, Qwan’tez Stiggers endured one of the most tragic and winding journeys in the sport. But he is out to prove he is more than his past.
Where Did Qwan’tez Stiggers Go to College?
Although Stiggers received a scholarship to play football at Lane College, a Division II HBCU in Jackson, Tennesse, he never played a down of college football.
Stiggers played WR, CB, and S at B.E.S.T. Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, but, as he told Shady Sports Network, he didn’t take school seriously until it was “too late” to earn an offer from DI programs. However, in February 2020, that would fall off his list of concerns.
Rayves Harrison, Stiggers’ father, was involved in a single-car accident that saw his vehicle flip 13 times and leave him in a coma.
Eight months later, as Stiggers was acclimating to life at Lane College, his father passed. With the Dragons’ football season canceled due to the pandemic, Stiggers dropped out of school and returned home to support his family.
However, his mother didn’t let him give up on his professional football dreams, signing him up for the newly founded Fan Controlled Football League. Despite being the youngest player in the FCF at just 20 years old, he led the league with five interceptions and was named a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year.
Stiggers’ play caught the eye of John Jenkins, the former offensive coordinator of the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, who helped him garner an opportunity to try out for the team. After an impressive showing, Stiggers signed with the Argos in January 2023, made the initial regular-season roster, and ultimately became the starter at outside CB.
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In 16 games, Stiggers amassed 53 tackles and ranked second in INTs with five. His standout performance resulted in Rookie of the Year honors and a spot in the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl, setting the stage for his NFL Draft prospects.
Stiggers left practices in Frisco, Texas, as one of the biggest winners from the event, leading to 29 appearing at his personal pro day in Atlanta in March. Then, during the pre-draft process, he received official Top 30 visits from 13 NFL teams.
A month later, Stiggers’ hard work and his mother’s unwavering belief were rewarded when the New York Jets chose him with the 176th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The selection made him only the fourth player in the modern era to be drafted into the NFL without any collegiate experience.
Prior to the Shrine Bowl, Stiggers told Andscape’s Branson Wright, “My life is not just a good story. There’s a lot behind it. I can really play football, and this isn’t just a fairy tale.”
As he begins this new chapter, Stiggers is poised to transform his extraordinary journey into a standout NFL career.
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